Remembering Coach Gola: ‘La Salle needed him’
By Mike Jensen, The Philadelphia Inquirer | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
That team Gola coached: You don't get much debate calling
Gola, who died Sunday at age 81, did not aspire to coach, and only did it for two seasons.
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The former coach,
For these men, Gola's presence changed everything.
Gola took him back, warily at first -- there were some issues, he'd heard. But in front of reporters at a Big Five luncheon, the coach stood up and told how
If Explorers players knew their 35-year-old coach was college's basketball's all-time leading rebounder and had won an
"He used to occasionally come out and scrimmage with us, just after practice," Cannon said this week. "He was not far that removed from having played. He didn't try to get gritty with us, to actually compete. But the way he moved, passed the ball, the way he monitored the play, just having fun, he gave a sense of how he had a real style."
He was no pushover. If you missed the bus for the airport by five minutes, you took the trip, then found out you'd be sitting all game, even if you were a starter, even if the opponent was
"I don't think Tom was lucky," said
Gola saw the talent in front of him. Durrett remains a popular pick for top Big Five player in history since Gola himself played just before the Big Five came about. He spent four seasons in the
Dunphy talked about how he gave everyone "a chance to shine, but not necessarily in their comfort zone." He meant Gola would challenge offensive talents like Cannon and Williams with a particularly tough defensive assignment. Offense was mostly a weave, a lot of fastbreaking, sets only when they hit a zone.
Michuda noted that Gola also earned respect in subtle ways, such as telling
"We all knew he had never coached before," Cannon said. "We all had confidence in just his basketball knowledge, that he would know how to handle the situation. I think he recognized a group of very fine basketball players. All we really needed was some leadership."
"Unflappable," was a word Michuda used. Never flapped? "He might get a little red and stand up during games," Michuda said.
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In
But for a small group of Explorers, Gola had changed the arc of their lives. Not all are still alive, but most are trying to get to the services Thursday in
Dunphy had gotten a call last week from Gola's wife, Caroline. It was time to say goodbye. Dunphy got to the nursing home on Friday morning.
"I went over to him, just rubbed his head a little bit, told him I love him," Dunphy said. "There wasn't any response. Could he hear it? That's questionable."
Speaking over the phone about his old coach, Fatty Taylor used the phrase he prepared me. He wasn't just talking about hoops -- although he meant that, too.
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@jensenoffcampus
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